Coaster Controlled HTPC

These days, HTPCs are becoming more and more common, however controlling the content elegantly can be a painfully annoying problem. Roteno Labs have come up with a wonderful solution they call the RFiDJ. Similar to the RFID phone we covered earlier, they used a set of picture frame coasters and mounted descriptive pictures as well as unique RFID tags in each one. When a coaster is placed in the sensor area the server begins streaming that particular selection, including local news, This Week in Tech podcast, and other specific albums. Roteno Labs even managed to include a “shuffle” tag which would play content randomly out of a library. The end result is very well put together, excellently documented, and there is even a working video after the break.

Anon: I think you are confusing simpler interaction with technical complexity. I think the author is trying to simplify his interaction with his music library. It can be technically complex to create simple interfaces. I do not think his solution scales beyond 10 playlists but for using with your favorite playlists this is a great idea.

Looks like a great idea, and I can think of another application: Making it easier for elderly people to pick & listen to radio stations (or music collection) on their computer. (Probably easier than using most regular radios as well)